A three-nation carrier strike group assembled around aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) welcomed the US Navy secretary for a visit during final deployment preparations.
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), Richard V. Spencer, landed aboard the USS Harry S. Truman Feb. 25, during the group’s composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX).
The visit marked Spencer’s first embark on an aircraft carrier during an operational exercise. While speaking on the ship’s 1MC, Spencer said Truman’s sailors have proven they are ready to deploy in support of our nation.
“It is a sincere privilege to be serving alongside you all today and to get a recap of the training you have been doing for the last 28 days,” said Spencer.
During his visit, Spencer observed accessors and mentors from carrier strike group (CSG) 4 as well as sailors participating in COMPTUEX scenarios from Harry S. Truman carrier strike group (HSTCSG), during one of the most complex afternoons in the month-long exercise.
The Harry S. Truman carrier strike group’s COMPTUEX is multinational as it is joined by German and Royal Danish Navy frigates for the evolutions.
HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F 311) will attend the COMPTUEX only while the German Sachsen-class frigate FGS Hessen (F 221) is also scheduled to deploy to the Mediterranean Sea together with the group later this year.
US Navy ships constituting the group include guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) and guided-missile destroyers USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), USS Farrragut (DDG 99), USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) and USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98).
COMPTUEX is the final stage of pre-deployment workups for HSTCSG. This evolution caps off more than seven months of training to ensure the team is ready to deploy.